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MLB suspends Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez for three games

Jays will appeal suspension, issued after Sanchez’s pitch hit a Royals batter in Sunday’s game, so reliever will be available tonight. Manager John Gibbons also suspended one game.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez reacts afteer he was ejected from their AL baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning for throwing at Royals player Alcides Escobar in Toronto on Sunday August 2, 2015. (Fred Thornhill / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Major League Baseball suspended Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez three games and manager John Gibbons one for their roles in a bench-clearing incident with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Sanchez was suspended for intentionally hitting Alcides Escobar. Jim Wolf, the home plate umpire Sunday, had ruled that Sanchez deliberately threw at Escobar in the eighth inning after both benches had been officially warned in the first inning.

Gibbons received his ban for returning to the field from the clubhouse to participate in the bench-clearing incident that followed. Gibbons had been ejected from the game earlier.

Sanchez immediately appealed his penalty and can keep playing until the appeal is heard. No date has yet been set. Gibbons served his suspension immediately and will return to the dugout.

“You guys heard what I said after the game,” Sanchez said in a brief interview session Tuesday. “Nothing’s changed in that respect. I’m appealing this, so I’ll be ready to go.”

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The warning to the Royals and Blue Jays was issued when Josh Donaldson, the second batter in Sunday’s game, was hit by a pitch delivered by Edinson Volquez. Donaldson was the target of two more close pitches from the Royals, while shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was hit on the forearm by a pitch, none of which elicited a reaction from Wolf.

When Sanchez hit Escobar in the eighth inning, he was immediately ejected. The pitcher reportedly told Wolf he was protecting his team, which is likely the basis for the suspension. He claimed to be a little wild with the pitch when talking to the media after the game.

“I guess I was a little surprised,” Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said. “Look, I understand the fact that (since) there were warnings issued that (a suspension) potentially was going to happen. I understand Gibby’s the same way. Three games seems (high). At the end of the day, it’s at the umpire’s discretion. If he feels that way, it’s not for us to decide. We can have our opinion and go through the appeal process. Three games on our end seems like a lot.

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